Protagonist
noun. The main character. The story’s beating heart. The one we follow, fret over, and occasionally yell at.
What is a protagonist?
The protagonist is the central character in your story, whose choices, challenges, and growth drive the narrative forward. They’re not always the hero. They’re not always likeable. But they are the ones your story hinges on.
Think of the protagonist as the character with the most at stake. The one we’re meant to root for (or at least obsess over). The one whose journey gives the story its spine.
They’re why we turn the page, even if they’re making questionable life decisions involving cursed swords, forbidden love, or terrible flatmates.
Does every story need a protagonist?
Technically, yes. You can have multiple points of view, sprawling ensemble casts, or slippery narrators—but there’s usually one central figure tying it all together. One character whose arc we’re tracking, even if we’re watching it unravel in slow motion.
That’s your protagonist.
Protagonist vs hero: Not the same thing
Let’s clear this up: your protagonist doesn’t need to be noble, brave, or even good. They need to be active. They need to want something. They need to make choices (even awful ones) that move the story forward.
Villains can be protagonists. Antiheroes. Chaos gremlins. Grumpy detectives. Lonely sea monsters. As long as we’re following them, they count.
What makes a strong protagonist?
- Clear stakes: What do they want, and what happens if they don’t get it?
- Agency: They don’t just react, they act (even if poorly).
- Complexity: Flaws are good. Conflict is better.
- Change: Growth, failure, reckoning…something shifts by the end.
- Connection: We feel something for them, whether curiosity, sympathy, rage, or whatever keeps us invested.
Examples of memorable protagonists
- Elizabeth Bennet (Pride and Prejudice) – Witty, stubborn, socially aware, emotionally evolving.
- Frodo Baggins (The Lord of the Rings) – Small hobbit, enormous burden. Reluctant hero with excellent friends.
- Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games) – Resilient, reluctant, and never just a pawn.
- Villanelle (Killing Eve) – Yes, she’s the assassin. Yes, she’s the protagonist. See above re: hero is not equal to protagonist.
- Eleanor Shellstrop (The Good Place) – Selfish mess turned ethical guinea pig. A+ growth arc.
The protagonist is the character your story revolves around. They’re the lens, the spark, the problem, the solution. Or all of the above. Make them complicated. Make them care about something. And make us care, too.
